Review: The Marvels movie is fun, upbeat, and likable.
marvels
Directed by Nia DaCosta. Written by Nia DaCosta, Megan McDonnell, and Elissa Karasik. It opened on November 10th.
Otakus went crazy the moment they saw three superheroes playing double dutch in a spaceship in the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s blockbuster The Marvels. I had a hunch that he would tear this piece to shreds.
As far as recent MCU films go, “The Marvels” certainly aren’t the most offensive. However, given that Marvel Studios has been in a creative and commercial slump, and given the continued underperformance of recent films that were supposed to be the beginning of a new era of big screen Avengers, the universe’s newest A gust of girl power could be an unlucky victim.
It’s bad enough that fanboys are aiming for this to fail. Apparently, the sight of women proudly rocking superhero gear that doesn’t look like flying prostitutes has some male comic book fans thinking that their precious Earth-616 adventures have been ruined by the Awakening. You might think that there is. (The comments section below that is recent variety Articles about MCU issues feel like an incel message board. ) We’ve already seen them try to act like the so-so Captain Marvel, which grossed $1 billion worldwide, is the worst MCU movie of all time. Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson, who played the amnesiac superwoman Carol Danvers, received a lot of criticism for appearing smug and arrogant. But I can’t help but think she’s taking that hate on her for refusing another ass role that could kick your ass.
This go around, Larson’s Guardians of the Galaxy will be joined by two gaming girls who have mostly been seen on the small screen. Teyonah Parris is Monica Rambeau, Danvers’ godniece, all grown up and now a powerful evildoer thanks to the witch spells she acquired during WandaVision. Also appearing is Iman Vellani, who headlined her own series as spunky teenage superhero (and Captain Marvel fangirl) Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel.Thanks to an ancient bracelet MacGuffin and an enchanting “jump point” (Read: Quantum Leap deus ex machina A being that travels through the solar system), the trio reluctantly become a time-hopping strike force, literally switching locations across the universe – usually while they’re in the middle of a series of actions. Of course, they have a big bad guy to deal with, and that’s another angry alien of color (Zawe Ashton, actress, playwright, and Tom Hiddleston’s fiance). Thankfully, there’s a good reason this guy is a scowling psychopath.
With a running time of 105 minutes, the shortest MCU movie in existence, “The Marvels” literally kicks into gear and gets into the action right away. You can see how producer and Marvel Studios mogul Kevin Feige cut scenes to keep the story sustained and popping. Due to the fast pace, some viewers may not have seen “WandaVision” or “Ms. WandaVision” yet. Marvel” and his other MCU shows on Disney+ are a little buried in the sources. It’s as if this movie is a hectic, dizzying response to how the MCU has long focused on world-building and connecting characters and storylines. It seems almost impossible to take a little time to relax and learn about superheroes.
Despite this, “Marvels” displays a fun, light-hearted likability we haven’t encountered in an MCU movie since “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Director Nia DaCosta (who directed the Jordan Peele-produced ‘Candyman’ reboot) said, “We started work on Hedda Gabler’s adaptation and gave Feige and company enough in post-production to get everything figured out.” I shot a video.” It highlights how cute, cozy, and a multicultural girls’ trip filled with cosmic friendships this is. Although this is another space adventure in his MCU (don’t you miss the days when these Marvel movies primarily took place on Earth?), DaCosta and co-writer Elissa Karasik and “WandaVision” ‘s screenwriter Megan McDonnell takes the time to have these women argue with each other. Bond through all the ass-kicking. (A critic friend of mine on Facebook accurately referred to “Marvel” as the “Charlie’s Angels” of her 2000 MCU.)
DaCosta does almost everything to alienate viewers who won’t accept his frills and feminine frivolity. When the women land on another planet for the obligatory sequence of visiting another planet, which has always happened in her recent MCU films, everyone there sings and sings like they’re in a Bollywood movie. It’s a colorful world to dress up in. (Korean dreamboat Park Seo-joon plays the photogenic ruler.) DaCosta and the screenwriters also have a third-act twist (Barbra Streisand) that reminds us of the film’s hilarious and flagrant message. (set to the rendition of “Memory” from “Cats”). The cat ends up saving the day. Meanwhile, Samuel L. Jackson plays his resident boss Nick Fury as a grumpy uncle in trouble, a role he’s wanted to play ever since he got the role. I think it is. He spends most of his screen time oblivious to the craziness on screen, primarily trying to keep the Khan family entertained as they interact with 300-year-old aliens.
As much as “The Marvels” continues to keep the MCU machine running and give viewers teases of what’s to come (the post-credits scene suggests that the MCU could be different if Jonathan Majors leads it), Substantially hinting that it’s ready to move in the direction of (Kung Angle Becomes a Bust), this film is proof that the fairer sex can keep the party going.
